The South African National Broadband Forum (SANBF) held a workshop earlier this year, focusing on the development of a framework for a national broadband strategy. The framework was released in April, focusing on various initiatives which will ensure that “all South Africans should have affordable broadband access to the Internet.”
The objectives of the “Framework for a Comprehensive National Broadband Strategy in South Africa” include the maximization of fibre and wireless broadband infrastructure, to stimulate the creation of digital broadband content, to enhance e-governance and e-citizenship and accelerate the adoption and use of advanced broadband connections.
The SANBF wants to achieve the following milestones by 2014:
- Have broadband access in every town and village;
- Have the cheapest broadband access on the continent; and,
- Be number one in terms of broadband penetration on the continent.
SANBF meeting with Department of Communications
The Department of Communications (DoC) recently said that a national broadband policy and addressing high telecoms costs will be a high priority for the department in this financial year. This included the development of a national broadband strategy and looking at spectrum policies and an audit of current spectrum allocation.
The DoC’s focus on a national broadband policy may tie in well with the SANBF’s recent work regarding the development and implementation of a comprehensive National Broadband Strategy for South Africa.
To further facilitate cooperation between the two organizations the SANBF recently met with the DoC to discuss a national broadband policy. David Barnard (SangoNet), Anriette Esterhuysen (APC) and Steve Song (Shuttleworth Foundation) met with Rosey Sekese, the Deputy DG - ICT Infrastructure Development at the DoC. The meeting was also attended by Anneke Grond (Chief Director: ICT Infrastructure and Applications) and Norman Munzhelele (Chief Director: ICT Policy Unit).
According to Song the meeting was positive and the Department of Communications seemed very receptive to public input. “This strikes me as a bit of a sea change from the previous stance of the Ministry,” said Song.
Song added that the department appreciated the SANBF’s input and agreed in large with the framework proposed by the broadband forum.
The DoC already has a draft national broadband policy which has been approved by the Minister of Communications, Siphiwe Nyanda. This policy is currently being circulated widely within government and is set to be gazetted within the next two weeks. The DoC indicated that it welcomes public input and comment on the draft policy once it has been gazetted.
Song said that the next step for the SANBF will be to mobilize public participation in commenting on the draft policy.
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Quelle/Source: MyBroadband, 07.09.2009
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